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2017-12-01 09:35:20

QD

Qudian

09:35

12/01/17

12/01

09:35

12/01/17

09:35

Qudian raises share repurchase program to $300M

The company announced it will increase its share repurchase program to up to $300M worth of its outstanding American Depositary Shares representing its Class A ordinary shares within the next twelve months.

QDQudian

11/27/17

STFL

11/27/17NO CHANGETarget $19STFLBuy

Qudian price target lowered to $19 from $35 at Stifel

Stifel analyst John Davis estimates Alipay's recently announced rate cap could result in as much as a 25% earnings hit to Qudian, but he also believes in that context that the more than 50% correction in the stock is overdone. Headlines about a data leak/breach are unconfirmed, added Davis, who cut his price target on Qudian shares to $19 from $35 but maintains a Buy rating on the stock.

11/24/17

MACQ

11/24/17NO CHANGETarget $24MACQOutperform

Qudian price target lowered to $24 from $36 at Macquarie

Macquarie analyst Dexter Hsu lowered his price target for Qudian shares to $24 after Ant Financial asked the company and its peers to cap the annual percentage rate at 24%, below the 34% charged by Qudian, from the end of this month if they would like to stay in the ecosystem. While Alipay still accounts for two-thirds of Qudian's loans facilitated, the impact could be smaller than expected since the company has been directing users to its own app, where the annual percentage rate will stay at 36%, Hsu tells investors in a research note. Nonetheless, he cut his 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 earnings estimates by 8%, 23%, 32% and 39%, respectively. The analyst keeps an Outperform rating on Qudian shares.

11/24/17

SBSH

11/24/17NO CHANGETarget $38.79SBSHBuy

Qudian user growth to see limited impact from new rules, says Citi

Citi analyst Daphne Poon believes Alipay's new annualized rate cap of 24% will have a limited impact on Qudian's user growth. The analyst sees pressure on new user growth being "relatively limited" given Qudian's "strong brand recognition, large existing user base, and strong consumption scenario." Poon believes the company enjoys stronger borrower engagement ability than peers. The analyst does, however, see more potential for an earnings hit from the lower APR on loans facilitated via Alipay, especially for first time borrowers. If 20% of Qudian's loan volume is originated from Alipay and subject to the 24% APR cap, it will lower Qudian's 2018 earnings net profit after tax by 10%, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Poon keeps a Buy rating on Qudian with a $38.79 price target.

11/21/17

STFL

11/21/17NO CHANGETarget $35STFLBuy

Stifel says regulation headlines misinterpreted, buy Qudian shares

Stifel analyst John Davis recommends buying shares of Qudian on today's weakness after Bloomberg reported that Chinese authorities are suspending online small-loan company approvals. The stock in morning trading is down 13% to $17.43. After speaking to management, Davis believes the regulation referred to in the Bloomberg story would only apply to new companies attempting to enter the small loan marketplace. Qudian, which is already licensed in China, would not be subject to the proposed regulation, the analyst tells investors in a research note. He believes that if anything, the regulation would create a competitive advantage for Qudian, as it creates a significant barrier to entry. Davis has a Buy rating on the shares with a $35 price target.

AT&T Mobility has reached a tentative agreement with the Communications Workers of America in Mobility Orange contract negotiations. The four-year agreement, which will be submitted to the union's membership for a ratification vote in coming days, covers about 20,000 employees in 36 states and the District of Columbia - AT&T's Mobility Orange unit, which encompasses CWA Districts 1, 2-13, 4, 7 and 9.

Pfizer announced that the United States FDA has approved IXIFI, a chimeric human-murine monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor, as a biosimilar to Remicade for all eligible indications of the reference product. The FDA has approved IXIFI as a treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, pediatric Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and plaque psoriasis.

Western Alliance Bancorporation announced that during the first quarter of 2018 Robert Sarver will transition from Chairman and CEO to Executive Chairman. In conjunction with Sarver's change in role, Ken Vecchione will be promoted to Chief Executive Officer, Dale Gibbons to Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, and James Haught to President and Chief Operating Officer, all effective April 1, 2018.

Aqua America announced that President and CEO Christopher H. Franklin has been elected chairman of the board, effective Jan. 1, 2018. Franklin became CEO in July 2015 and has served on the board of directors since October 2015. He succeeds Nicholas DeBenedictis, former CEO, who will continue to serve on the board as chairman emeritus.